Systems and methods for determining a position of a focal spot of an X-ray source

ABSTRACT

A system and method for determining a position of a focal spot of an X-ray source may be provided. The system may include a shelter to attenuate X-rays emitted from the focal spot of the X-ray source and an X-ray receiver to receive X-rays. The X-ray receiver may include a plurality of X-ray receiving regions. At least one of the plurality of X-ray receiving regions may X-rays that include attenuated X-rays by the shelter and unattenuated X-rays. The shelter and the X-ray receiver may reside between the X-ray source and an X-ray detector for determining the position of the focal spot.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/693,328, filed on Aug. 31, 2017, which claims priority of ChinesePatent Application No. 201710398128.1 filed on May 31, 2017, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods forX-ray imaging, and more particularly, to systems and methods fordetermining a position of a focal spot of an X-ray source.

BACKGROUND

In an X-ray imaging system, X-rays that are generated by a focal spot ofan X-ray source may be used to scan an object. A detector may besituated to face the X-ray source to detect X-rays that strike it. Inresponse to the detected X-rays, the detector may generate signals thatare used to reconstruct an image of the object.

During the scanning, it is desired to keep the relative position of thefocal spot of the X-ray source to the detector (may be referred to as“relative position” in the following description) unchanged. However,the relative position may change with the working condition of the X-raysource. For example, when the temperature of the X-ray source changes,the relative position may change accordingly. Thereby, it is necessaryto develop a system and method for determining the position of the focalspot of the X-ray source during the scanning, and correct the relativeposition (if necessary) for a subsequent processing (e.g., imagereconstruction).

SUMMARY

In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, asystem and method for determining a position of a focal spot of an X-raysource are provided.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a system fordetermining a position of a focal spot of an X-ray source is provided.The system may include a shelter that is configured to attenuate X-raysemitted from the focal spot of the X-ray source. The system may furtherinclude an X-ray receiver that is configured to receive X-rays. TheX-ray receiver may include a plurality of X-ray receiving regions. Atleast one of the plurality of X-ray receiving regions may receive X-raysthat include attenuated X-rays by the shelter and unattenuated X-rays.The shelter and the X-ray receiver may be separated by a distance. Theshelter and the X-ray receiver may reside between the X-ray source andan X-ray detector for determining the position of the focal spot.

In some embodiments, the system may include a storage device storing aset of instructions, and at least one processor in communication withthe storage device. When executing the instructions, the at least oneprocessor may be configured to cause the system to determine anintensity of the X-rays that strike the at least one of the plurality ofX-ray receiving regions. The X-rays that strike the at least one of theplurality of X-ray receiving regions may include attenuated X-rays bythe shelter and unattenuated X-rays. The at least one processor mayfurther cause the system to determine, based on the determined intensityof the X-rays that strike the at least one of the plurality of X-rayreceiving regions, the position of the focal spot of the X-ray source.

In some embodiments, the plurality of X-ray receiving regions mayinclude two X-ray receiving regions arranged in a first direction andtwo X-ray receiving regions arranged in a second direction. The firstdirection may be perpendicular to the second direction.

In some embodiments, one of the two X-ray receiving regions arranged inthe first direction may be partially overlapped with one of the twoX-ray receiving regions arranged in the second direction.

In some embodiments, the size of one of the two X-ray receiving regionsarranged in the first direction may be the same as the size of one ofthe two X-ray receiving regions arranged in the second direction.

In some embodiments, to determine the intensity of the X-rays thatstrike the at least one of the plurality of X-ray receiving regions mayinclude to determine a first intensity of the X-rays that strike each ofthe two X-ray receiving regions arranged in the first direction, and todetermine a second intensity of the X-rays that strike each of the twoX-ray receiving regions arranged in the second direction.

In some embodiments, to determine, based on the determined intensity ofthe X-rays that strike the at least one of the plurality of X-rayreceiving regions, the position of the focal spot of the X-ray sourcemay include to determine, based on the first intensities, the positionof the focal spot in the first direction, determine, based on the secondintensities, the position of the focal spot in the second direction, anddetermine, based on the position of the focal spot in the firstdirection and the position of the focal spot in the second direction,the position of the focal spot.

In some embodiments, to determine the position of the focal spot in thefirst direction may include to determine the position of the focal spotin the first direction based on a relationship between positions of thefocal spot and distributions of intensities of the X-rays that strikethe at least one of the plurality of X-ray receiving regions.

In some embodiments, to determine the position of the focal spot in thefirst direction may include to determine the position of the focal spotin the first direction based on a difference between the intensities ofthe X-rays that strike at least two of the plurality of X-ray receivingregions.

In some embodiments, to determine the position of the focal spot in thefirst direction may include to determine the position of the focal spotin the first direction based on a ratio between the intensities of theX-rays that strike at least two of the plurality of X-ray receivingregions.

In some embodiments, the shelter may have a shape of a cross, arectangle, a circle, or a triangle.

In some embodiments, at least a portion of the at least one of theplurality of X-ray receiving regions may receive the unattenuated X-raysemitted from the focal spot of the X-ray source.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method fordetermining a position of a focal spot of an X-ray source is provided.The method may be implemented on at least one machine, each of which hasat least one processor and storage. The method may include attenuating,by a shelter, X-rays emitted from the focal spot of the X-ray source,and receiving, by an X-ray receiver, X-rays that include the attenuatedX-rays by the shelter and unattenuated X-rays. The X-ray receiver mayhave a plurality of X-ray receiving regions. The method may furtherinclude determining, by at least a processor, an intensity of the X-raysthat strike at least one of the plurality of X-ray receiving regions,and determining, based on the determined intensity of the X-rays thatstrike the at least one of the plurality of X-ray receiving regions, theposition of the focal spot of the X-ray source.

Additional features will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the artupon examination of the following and the accompanying drawings or maybe learned by production or operation of the examples. The features ofthe present disclosure may be realized and attained by practice or useof various aspects of the methodologies, instrumentalities, andcombinations set forth in the detailed examples discussed below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is further described in terms of exemplaryembodiments. These exemplary embodiments are described in detail withreference to the drawings. These embodiments are non-limiting exemplaryembodiments, in which like reference numerals represent similarstructures throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary imagingsystem according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating hardware and/or softwarecomponents of an exemplary computing device on which a processing enginemay be implemented according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating hardware and/or softwarecomponents of an exemplary mobile device on which a terminal may beimplemented according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary imagingapparatus according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary tracking deviceaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary tracking deviceaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary tracking deviceaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary tracking deviceaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary tracking deviceaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an exemplary process for determining aposition of a focal spot of an X-ray source according to someembodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding ofthe relevant disclosure. However, it should be apparent to those skilledin the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without suchdetails. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, systems,components, and/or circuitry have been described at a relativelyhigh-level, without detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuringaspects of the present disclosure. Various modifications to thedisclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to otherembodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not limitedto the embodiments shown, but to be accorded the widest scope consistentwith the claims.

The terminology used herein is to describe particular exemplaryembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include theplural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Itwill be further understood that the terms “comprise,” “comprises,”and/or “comprising,” “include,” “includes,” and/or “including,” whenused in this specification, specify the presence of stated features,integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof.

It will be understood that the term “system,” “engine,” “unit,”“module,” and/or “block” used herein are one method to distinguishdifferent components, elements, parts, section or assembly of differentlevel in ascending order. However, the terms may be displaced by anotherexpression if they achieve the same purpose.

It will be understood that when a unit, engine, module or block isreferred to as being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to,” anotherunit, engine, module, or block, it may be directly on, connected orcoupled to, or communicate with the other unit, engine, module, orblock, or an intervening unit, engine, module, or block may be present,unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items.

These and other features, and characteristics of the present disclosure,as well as the methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of structure and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, may become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description with reference to the accompanying drawings, allof which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be expresslyunderstood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose ofillustration and description only and are not intended to limit thescope of the present disclosure. It is understood that the drawings arenot to scale.

For illustration purposes, the following description is provided to helpbetter understanding the present disclosure. It is understood that thisis not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Forpersons having ordinary skills in the art, a certain amount ofvariations, changes and/or modifications may be deducted under theguidance of the present disclosure. Those variations, changes and/ormodifications do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure.

To avoid deficiencies that may be caused by the variation of a focalspot of an X-ray source, implementations of the present disclosureprovide for mechanisms (which may include methods, systems,computer-readable medium, etc.) for determining the position of thefocal spot of the X-ray source. For example, the mechanisms maydetermine the position of the focal spot of the X-ray source based on ashelter and an X-ray receiver that has a plurality of X-ray receivingregions. The shelter may have a properly designed shape orconfiguration, and attenuate X-rays that strike it. With the sheltersituated between the X-ray source and the X-ray receiver, the densitiesof X-rays that strike different X-ray receiving regions of the X-rayreceiver may vary with the position of the focal spot of the X-raysource. Thereby, the position of the focal spot of the X-ray source maybe determined according to the densities of X-rays that strike differentregions of the X-ray receiver.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary imaging system 100according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown, theimaging system 100 may include an imaging apparatus 102, a dataacquisition module 104, a processing module 106, a console 108, acontroller 110, and a storage module 112. It should be noted that theimaging system described below is merely provided for illustrationpurposes, and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.The imaging system 100 may find its applications in various fields, forexample, healthcare industries (e.g., medical applications), securityapplications, industrial applications, etc. For example, the imagingsystem 100 may be used for internal inspections of components including,e.g., flaw detection, security scanning, failure analysis, metrology,assembly analysis, void analysis, wall thickness analysis, or the like,or a combination thereof. The imaging system may be a computedtomography (CT) system, a digital radiography (DR) system, a computedradiography (CR) scanner, a multi-modality system, or the like, or acombination thereof.

Generally, the terms “module,” “unit,” and/or “engine” used herein,refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection ofsoftware instructions. The modules, units, and engines described hereinmay be implemented as software and/or hardware modules and may be storedin any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or anotherstorage device. In some embodiments, a software module may be compiledand linked into an executable program. It will be appreciated thatsoftware modules can be callable from other modules or themselves,and/or can be invoked in response to detected events or interrupts.Software modules configured for execution on computing devices (e.g.,processor 220 or CPU 340) can be provided on a computer readable medium,such as a compact disc, a digital video disc, a flash drive, a magneticdisc, or any other tangible medium, or as a digital download (and can beoriginally stored in a compressed or installable format that requiresinstallation, decompression, or decryption prior to execution). Suchsoftware code can be stored, partially or fully, on a memory device ofthe executing computing device, for execution by the computing device.Software instructions can be embedded in firmware, such as an EPROM. Itwill be further appreciated that hardware modules can be included ofconnected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and/or can beincluded of programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays orprocessors. The modules or computing device functionality describedherein are preferably implemented as software modules but can berepresented in hardware or firmware. In general, the modules describedherein refer to logical modules that can be combined with other modulesor divided into sub-modules despite their physical organization orstorage.

The imaging apparatus 102 may be a computed tomography (CT) scanner, adigital radiography (DR) scanner, a computed radiography (CR) scanner, amultimodality imaging device, or the like, or a combination thereof.Exemplary multi-modality imaging devices may include a computedtomography-positron emission tomography (CT-PET) scanner, a computedtomography-magnetic resonance imaging (CT-MRI) scanner, etc. The imagingapparatus 102 may generate a signal by scanning an object with radiationbeams. The radiation beams may include X-rays. The object may include asubstance, tissue, an organ, a specimen, a body, a human being, or thelike, or a combination thereof. The signal may contain characteristicinformation of the object (e.g., density, thickness, composition). Insome embodiments, a detector in the imaging apparatus 102 may detect aradiation beam traversing an object to generate a signal. For example,the detected radiation beam may excite a scintillating material on thedetector to generate an optical signal. In some embodiments, the imagingapparatus 102 may include one or more devices that are configured tocollect data relating to the working condition of one or more componentsof the imaging apparatus 102. For example, the one or more devices maycollect data relating to the position of a focal spot of an X-ray sourcein the imaging apparatus 102. The data relating to the working conditionof one or more components of the imaging apparatus 102 may betransmitted to, for example, the processing module 106 for subsequentprocessing.

The data acquisition module 104 may obtain a signal generated by theimaging apparatus 102. For example, the data acquisition module 104 mayreceive an optical signal from a detector of the imaging apparatus 102.The data acquisition module 104 may include an optoelectronic conversionunit, an analog-digital converter (ADC), or the like, or a combinationthereof. The optoelectronic conversion unit may convert the opticalsignal into an electronic signal. The analog-digital converter mayfurther convert the electronic signal into a digital signal, such as adigital signal that encodes projection data of an object. The projectiondata may be transmitted to other components (e.g., the processing module106) in the imaging system 100 for further processing. It should benoted that, in some embodiments, the optoelectronic conversion unitand/or the analog-digital converter may be unnecessary, or may beintegrated into the imaging apparatus 102.

The processing module 106 may generate an image based on data relatingto an object obtained from other components in the imaging system 100,for example, the data acquisition module 104, or the storage module 112.The image may be generated using a suitable analytical reconstructiontechnique, an iterative reconstruction technique, and/or otherreconstruction techniques. Alternatively or additionally, the processingmodule 106 may determine a working condition of the imaging apparatus102 (e.g., the position of one or more components of the imagingapparatus 102), and generate an image based on the working condition ofthe imaging apparatus. The processing module 106 may be connected to orcommunicate with the data acquisition 104, the console 108, thecontroller 110, and the storage 112 via a wireless connection, a wiredconnection, or a combination thereof.

The console 108 may be a user interface through which a user or anoperator may communicate with different components in the imaging system100. The console 108 may include an input device, a control panel, etc.The input device may include alphanumeric and other keys that may beinput via, for example, a keyboard, a touch screen (e.g., with a hapticsor tactile feedback), a speech input, an eye tracking input, a brainmonitoring system, or any other comparable input mechanism. The inputdevice may also include, for example, a cursor control device, such as amouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys, etc. In some embodiments,the console 108 may display images generated by the processing module106. The console 108 may send a command or an instruction from a user oran operator to the processing module 106, and/or the controller 110. Theconsole 108 may set one or more parameters for the imaging system 100,including acquisition parameters and/or reconstruction parameters. Theacquisition parameters may relate to one or more conditions in obtainingscan data by, for example, scanning an object. The reconstructionparameters may relate to one or more conditions in reconstructing animage of an object. For example, the acquisition parameters may includea tube voltage, a tube current, recon parameters (e.g., a slicethickness), a scan time, a collimation/slice width, a beam filtration, ahelical pitch, etc. The reconstruction parameters may include areconstruction field of view (FOV), a reconstruction matrix, aconvolution kernel/reconstruction filter, etc.

The controller 110 may control the imaging apparatus 102, the dataacquisition module 104, the processing module 106, the console 108,and/or the storage module 112. For example, the controller 110 maycontrol the imaging apparatus 102 to rotate to a desired position thatmay be prescribed by a user via the console 108. The controller 110 maycontrol the parameters of radiation beams, including the intensity ofradiation beams. As another example, the controller 110 may control thedisplay of images on the console 108. In some embodiments, thecontroller 110 may control the data acquisition module 104 to acquire asignal generated from the imaging apparatus 102. Furthermore, thecontroller 110 may control the processing module 106 to generate animage based on data received from the data acquisition module 104.

The controller 110 may include a processor, a processing core, memory,or the like, or a combination thereof. Specifically, the controller 110may include a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), an application-specific instruction-setprocessor (ASIP), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a physics processingunit (PPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gatearray (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), a microcontroller unit,a microprocessor, an advanced RISC machines processor (ARM), or thelike, or a combination thereof.

The storage module 112 may store data relating to the imaging system100. The data may be a numerical value, an image, information of asubject, an instruction and/or a signal to operate the imaging apparatus102, voice, a model relating to a patient, an algorithm relating to animage processing technique, or the like, or a combination thereof.Exemplary numerical values may include a threshold, a CT value, a valuerelating to an anti-scatter grid, or the like, or a combination thereof.Exemplary images may include a raw image or a processed image (e.g., animage after pretreatment). Exemplary models relating to a patient mayinclude the background information of the patient, for example,ethnicity, citizenship, religion, gender, age, matrimony state, height,weight, medical history (e.g., history relating to different organs, ortissues), job, personal habits, or the like, or a combination thereof.

The storage module 112 may include a random-access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), or the like, or a combination thereof. Therandom-access memory (RAM) may include a dekatron, a dynamicrandom-access memory (DRAM), a static random-access memory (SRAM), athyristor random access memory (T-RAM), a zero-capacitor random accessmemory (Z-RAM), or the like, or a combination thereof. The read onlymemory (ROM) may include a bubble memory, a magnetic button line memory,a memory thin film, a magnetic plate line memory, a core memory, amagnetic drum memory, a CD-ROM drive, a hard disk, a flash memory, orthe like, or a combination thereof. The storage module 112 may be aremovable storage device such as a U flash disk that may read data fromand/or write data to the processing module 106 in a certain manner. Thestorage module 112 may also include other similar means for providingcomputer programs or other instructions to operate the modules/units inthe imaging system 100. The storage module 112 may be operationallyconnected with one or more virtual storage resources (e.g., a cloudstorage, a virtual private network, other virtual storage resources,etc.) for transmitting or storing the data into the one or more virtualstorage resources.

In some embodiments, the imaging system 100 may be connected to anetwork (not shown in the figure). The network may be a local areanetwork (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a public network, a privatenetwork, a proprietary network, a public switched telephone network(PSTN), the Internet, a virtual network, a metropolitan area network, atelephone network, or the like, or a combination thereof. The connectionbetween different components in the imaging system 100 may be wired orwireless. The wired connection may include using a metal cable, anoptical cable, a hybrid cable, an interface, or the like, or acombination thereof. The wireless connection may include using awireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless wide area network (WWAN),a Bluetooth, a ZigBee, a near field communication (NFC), or the like, ora combination thereof.

This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit thescope of the present disclosure. Many alternatives, modifications, andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features,structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplaryembodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtainadditional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments. For example, thestorage module 112 may be a database including cloud computingplatforms, such as a public cloud, a private cloud, a community andhybrid clouds, etc. As another example, the data acquisition module 104may be implemented on the imaging apparatus 102. As a further example,the controller 110 and the storage module 112 may be integrated into onemodule. However, those variations and modifications do not depart thescope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating exemplary hardware and/orsoftware components of an exemplary computing device 200 on which theprocessing module 106 may be implemented according to some embodimentsof the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the computingdevice 200 may include an internal communication bus 210, a processor220, a read-only memory (ROM) 230, a random access memory (RAM) 240, acommunication port 250, an input/output (I/O) 260, a disk 270, and adisplay 280 connected to the I/O 260.

The internal communication bus 210 may be used for data communication.In some embodiments, components of the computing device 200 maycommunicate data with each other via the internal communication bus 210.For example, the processor 220 may send data to the ROM 230, the RAM240, or the I/O 260. In some embodiments, the data may include aninstruction code, status information and/or control information. In someembodiments, the internal communication bus 210 may include an IndustryStandard Architecture (ISA) bus, an Extended Industry StandardArchitecture (EISA) bus, a Video Electronic Standard Association (VESA)bus, a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus, or the like, or anycombination thereof.

The processor 220 may execute computer instructions (e.g., program code)and perform functions of the processing module 106 in accordance withtechniques described herein. The computer instructions may include, forexample, routines, programs, objects, components, data structures,procedures, modules, and functions, which perform particular functionsdescribed herein. For example, the processor 220 may process image dataobtained from the imaging apparatus 102, the data acquisition module104, the processing module 106, and/or any other component of theimaging system 100. In some embodiments, the processor 220 may includeone or more hardware processors, such as a microcontroller, amicroprocessor, a reduced instruction set computer (RISC), anapplication specific integrated circuits (ASICs), anapplication-specific instruction-set processor (ASIP), a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a physicsprocessing unit (PPU), a microcontroller unit, a digital signalprocessor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an advancedRISC machine (ARM), a programmable logic device (PLD), any circuit orprocessor capable of executing one or more functions, or the like, orany combinations thereof.

Merely for illustration, only one processor is described in thecomputing device 200. However, it should be noted that the computingdevice 200 in the present disclosure may also include multipleprocessors. Thus operations and/or method steps that are performed byone processor as described in the present disclosure may also be jointlyor separately performed by the multiple processors. For example, if inthe present disclosure the processor of the computing device 200executes both process A and process B, it should be understood thatprocess A and process B may also be performed by two or more differentprocessors jointly or separately in the computing device 200 (e.g., afirst processor executes process A and a second processor executesprocess B, or the first and second processors jointly execute processesA and B).

The ROM 230 may be employed for power on self-test of the processingmodule 106, initialization of the components of the processing module106, drive programs of the I/O of the processing module 106. The ROM mayinclude a mask ROM (MROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasableprogrammable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM(EEPROM), a compact disk ROM (CD-ROM), and a digital versatile disk ROM,etc.

The RAM 240 may store an operating system, applications, data, etc. TheRAM may include a dynamic RAM (DRAM), a double date rate synchronousdynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM), a static RAM (SRAM), a thyristor RAM (T-RAM),and a zero-capacitor RAM (Z-RAM), etc.

The communication port 250 may be connected to a network to facilitatedata communications. The communication port 250 may establishconnections between the processing module 106 and the imaging apparatus102, the data acquisition module 104, the processing module 106, and/orthe storage module 112. The connection may be a wired connection, awireless connection, any other communication connection that can enabledata transmission and/or reception, and/or any combination of theseconnections. The wired connection may include, for example, anelectrical cable, an optical cable, a telephone wire, or the like, orany combination thereof. The wireless connection may include, forexample, a Bluetooth™ link, a Wi-Fi™ link, a WiMAX™ link, a WLAN link, aZigBee link, a mobile network link (e.g., 3G, 4G, 5G), or the like, or acombination thereof. In some embodiments, the communication port 240 maybe and/or include a standardized communication port, such as RS232,RS485, etc. In some embodiments, the communication port 250 may be aspecially designed communication port. For example, the communicationport 250 may be designed in accordance with the digital imaging andcommunications in medicine (DICOM) protocol.

The I/O 260 may input and/or output signals, data, information, etc. Insome embodiments, the I/O 260 may enable a user interaction with theprocessing module 106. In some embodiments, the I/O 260 may include aninput device and an output device. Examples of the input device mayinclude a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, a microphone, or the like,or a combination thereof. Examples of the output device may include adisplay device, a loudspeaker, a printer, a projector, or the like, or acombination thereof. Examples of the display device may include a liquidcrystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED)-based display, aflat panel display, a curved screen, a television device, a cathode raytube (CRT), a touch screen, or the like, or a combination thereof.

The disk 270 may store data or information generated by the processingmodule 106. The disk 270 may include a hard disk drive (HDD), asolid-state drive (SSD), a hybrid hard drive (HHD), etc.

The display 280 may present data or information generated by theprocessing module 106 to a user. In some embodiments, the display 280may include a physical display including, for example, a display with aloudspeaker, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode(LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, an E-inkdisplay.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating exemplary hardware and/orsoftware components of an exemplary mobile device 300 on which theprocessing module 106 may be implemented according to some embodimentsof the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the mobile device300 may include a communication platform 310, a display 320, a graphicprocessing unit (GPU) 330, a central processing unit (CPU) 340, an I/O350, a memory 360, and a storage 390. In some embodiments, any othersuitable component, including but not limited to a system bus or acontroller (not shown), may also be included in the mobile device 300.In some embodiments, a mobile operating system 370 (e.g., iOS™,Android™, Windows Phone™) and one or more applications 380 may be loadedinto the memory 360 from the storage 390 in order to be executed by theCPU 340. The applications 380 may include a browser or any othersuitable mobile apps for receiving and rendering information relating toimage processing or other information from the processing module 106.User interactions with the information stream may be achieved via theI/O 350 and provided to the processing module 106 and/or othercomponents of the imaging system 100 via a network.

To implement various modules, units, and their functionalities describedin the present disclosure, computer hardware platforms may be used asthe hardware platform(s) for one or more of the elements describedherein. A computer with user interface elements may be used to implementa personal computer (PC) or any other type of work station or terminaldevice. A computer may also act as a server if appropriately programmed.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary imagingapparatus 102 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.The imaging apparatus 102 may include an X-ray source 410, a trackingdevice 420 and a detector 440. The tracking device 420 may residebetween the X-ray source 410 and the detector 440. During a scanningprocess, an object 430 may reside between the X-ray source 410 and thedetector 440. In some embodiments, the imaging apparatus 102 may be usedin an imaging system, for example, a CT system, a CR system, a DRsystem, a CT-PET system, or a CT-MRI system.

The X-ray source 410 may generate X-rays. The X-ray source 410 mayinclude an X-ray tube that is configured to generate the X-rays under apower supply. For illustration purpose, the X-ray tube may include acathode and an anode that is situated to face the cathode. When thecathode is powered by the power supply, electrons may be liberated fromthe cathode and move toward the anode under the effect of an electricfield between the cathode and the anode. When the electrons impinge onthe anode, X-rays may be generated by a focal spot on the anode. Thefocal spot may refer to the area on the anode that receives theelectrons. The position of the focal spot on the anode may vary with,for example, the power provided by the power supply, the electric fieldapplied between the cathode and the anode, or the ambient temperature ofthe anode.

The tracking device 420 may determine the position of the focal spot ofthe X-ray source. The tracking device 420 may include an X-ray receiverthat is configured to receive X-rays emitted from the focal spot of theX-ray source. The X-ray receiver may generate an electrical signal inresponse to X-rays that strike the X-ray receiver. In some embodiments,the electrical signal may be associated with the incident angles of theX-rays that strike the X-ray receiver. In some embodiments, theelectrical signal may be associated with the intensity of X-rays thatstrike the X-ray receiver or a part thereof.

The X-ray receiver may be connected to a component that is capable ofprocessing the electrical signal. In some embodiments, the X-rayreceiver may transmit the electrical signal to one or more components inthe imaging system 100 (e.g., the processing module 106) to determinethe position of the focal spot. For example, the processing module 106may determine the incident angles of the X-rays that strike the X-rayreceiver based on the electrical signal. Then the processing module 106may determine the position of the focal spot based on the incidentangles of the X-rays that strike the X-ray receiver. As another example,the processing module 106 may determine the intensity of the X-rays thatstrike the X-ray receiver or a part thereof based on the electricalsignal. Then the processing module 106 may determine the position of thefocal spot based on the intensity of the X-rays that strike the X-rayreceiver or a part thereof. In some embodiments, the X-ray receiver maybe connected to an external position determination module that isconfigured to determine the position of the focal spot of the X-raysource based on the electrical signal. As used herein, the positiondetermination module refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware,or to a collection of software instructions. The position determinationmodule may be implemented as software and/or hardware modules and may bestored in any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or anotherstorage device. For example, the position determination module may beimplemented in the computing device 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 (e.g., theprocessor 220) or the mobile device 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 (e.g., CPU340).

The detector 440 may detect the X-rays traversing the object 430. Thedetector 440 may include a plurality of detection units. In someembodiments, the plurality of detection units may be positioned to forman arcuate structure. The detector 440 may be connected to one or morecomponents of the imaging system 100 (e.g., the data acquisition module104). For example, the data acquisition module 104 may receive datarelated to the object 430 from the detector 440, and further transmitthe data related to the object 430 to the processing module 106 forimage reconstruction.

This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit thescope of the present disclosure. Many alternatives, modifications, andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features,structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplaryembodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtainadditional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments. For example, thetracking device 420 may be a device that is detachable from, forexample, the X-ray source 410, or the detector 440. As another example,the tracking device 420 may be located at any position between the X-raysource 410 and the object 430. Alternatively, it shall be understoodthat the tracking device 430 may also be located behind the object 430as long as the tracking device 420 has an unobstructed view of the X-raysource 410. As still another example, the imaging apparatus 120 mayinclude a collimator configured to shape the X-rays generated by thefocal spot. The tracking device 420 may be located adjacent to thetracking device 420 without affecting the shaped X-rays. However, thosevariations and modifications do not depart the scope of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary tracking device500 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In someembodiments, the tracking device 500 may be used as a component of theimaging apparatus 102 (e.g., the tracking device 420 or a part thereof).The tracking device 500 may include a shelter 510 and an X-ray receiver520. The X-ray receiver 520 may have a surface that is parallel to thex-z plane as illustrated in FIG. 5. The shelter 510 and the X-rayreceiver 520 may be separated by a distance d along the direction thatis perpendicular to the x-z plane (e.g., the y direction).

The shelter 510 may attenuate the X-rays that strike it. When X-raysstrike the shelter 510, a first portion of the X-rays may be absorbed orscattered by the shelter 510, and a second portion of the X-rays maypass through the shelter 510. In some embodiment, a ratio between theintensity of the second portion of the X-rays and the intensity of thefirst portion of the X-rays may be less than 80%, or less than 50%, orless than 30%, or less than 10%, or less than 5%, or less than 1%, etc.

The shelter 510 may include materials that are capable of absorbingX-rays (also referred to herein as “highly absorbing materials”).Exemplary highly absorbing materials may include tungsten, lead,uranium, gold, silver, copper, molybdenum, plumbum, or the like, or acombination thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the shelter 510 mayinclude materials that may allow X-rays to pass (also referred to hereinas “poorly absorbing materials”). Exemplary poorly absorbing materialsmay include resin, fiber, rubber, inorganic non-metallic material (e.g.,ceramics), etc. As used herein, a highly absorbing material and a poorlyabsorbing material may absorb different amounts of X-rays. For example,the highly absorbing material may absorb a greater amount of theradiation than the poorly absorbing material. In some embodiments, theshelter 510 may be formed by the highly absorbing material. For example,the highly absorbing material may be made into a properly designed shapeor configuration (e.g., the shelter 610 as illustrated in FIG. 6). Insome embodiments, the shelter 510 may be partially formed by the highlyabsorbing material and partially formed by the poorly absorbingmaterial. For example, the poorly absorbing material may be fabricatedto fill one or more gaps in a structure that is formed by the highlyabsorbing material.

The shelter 510 may have various shapes, for example, a cross, arectangle, a circle, a star, a snowflake, or a triangle. The shape ofthe shelter 510 may affect the distribution of the X-rays that strikethe X-ray receiver 520. More descriptions regarding the distribution ofthe X-ray that strike the X-ray receiver may be found elsewhere in thepresent disclosure (e.g., FIG. 10 and the description thereof).

The X-ray receiver 520 may receive X-rays that strike it. The X-raysthat strike the X-ray receiver 520 may include unattenuated X-rays thatare not attenuated by the shelter 510 and attenuated X-rays that passthrough the shelter 510. In some embodiments, the X-ray receiver 520 mayinclude a plurality of X-ray receiving regions. An X-ray receivingregion may include one or more detection units that generate anelectrical signal in response to the X-rays that strike the X-rayreceiving region. In some embodiments, the electrical signal may beassociated with the intensity of the X-rays that strike the X-rayreceiving region. More description regarding the plurality of the X-rayreceiving region may be found elsewhere in the disclosure (e.g., FIG. 7,FIG. 8, and the description thereof).

In some embodiments, the X-ray receiver 520 may be connected to acomponent of the imaging system 100 that is capable of processing theelectrical signal generated by an X-ray receiving region. For example,the X-ray receiver 520 may transmit the electrical signal to theprocessing module 106 of the imaging system 100 such that the processingmodule 106 may determine the position of the focal spot of the X-raysource based on the electrical signal. As another example, the X-rayreceiver 520 may transmit the electrical signal to a positiondetermination module that is implemented in the computing device 200illustrated in FIG. 2 (e.g., the processor 220) or the mobile device 300illustrated in FIG. 3 (e.g., CPU 340). In some embodiments, the positiondetermination module may be integrated as part of the X-ray receiver520. In some embodiments, the position determination module may be inwired or wireless connection with the X-ray receiver.

This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit thescope of the present disclosure. Many alternatives, modifications, andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features,structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplaryembodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtainadditional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments. For example, thedistance d between the shelter 510 and the X-ray receiver 520 may beadjustable. However, those variations and modifications do not departthe scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary tracking device600 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In someembodiments, the tracking device 600 may be used as a component of theimaging apparatus 102 (e.g., the tracking device 420 or a part thereof).The tracking device 600 may include a shelter 610 and an X-ray receiver620. The X-ray receiver 620 may be similar to the X-receiver 520 asillustrated in FIG. 5, and the description thereof is not repeated here.

The shelter 610 may have a shape of a cross. The shelter 610 may beformed by two elongated rods extending along different directions. Theangle formed by the two elongated rods may be a value ranging from 0 to180 degrees. For example, the angle formed by the two elongated rods maybe 90 degrees. An elongated rod may be made of at least one highlyabsorbing material as described elsewhere in the disclosure. In someembodiments, the shelter 610 may also include an auxiliary structure tosupport or mount the two elongated rods (not shown in the figure). Theauxiliary structure may be made of a poorly absorbing material asdescribed elsewhere in the disclosure.

The shelter 610 and the X-ray receiver 620 may form an assembly that issituated before an X-ray source. When the shelter 610 and the X-rayreceiver 620 are radiated by X-rays emitted from a focal spot of theX-ray source, the X-ray receiver 620 may receive attenuated X-rays thatpass through the shelter 610 and unattenuated X-rays that are notattenuated by the shelter 610. The attenuated X-rays that pass throughthe shelter 610 may form a “shaded area” on the X-ray receiver 620, andthe unattenuated X-rays that are not attenuated by the shelter 610 mayform a “normal area” on the X-ray receiver 620. It shall be noted thatthe intensity of X-rays in a unit area of the “shaded area” may be lessthan the intensity of X-rays that strike a unit area in the “normalarea.” In some embodiments, the “shaded area” may have a shape of across that resembles the shape of the shelter 610.

This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit thescope of the present disclosure. Many alternatives, modifications, andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features,structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplaryembodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtainadditional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments. For example, theangle formed by the two elongated rods may be adjustable. However, thosevariations and modifications do not depart the scope of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary tracking device700 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In someembodiments, the tracking device 700 may be used as a component of theimaging apparatus 102 (e.g., the tracking device 420 or a part thereof).The tracking device 700 may include a shelter 710 and an X-ray receiver720. The shelter 710 may be similar to the shelter 510 as illustrated inFIG. 5, or the shelter 610 as illustrated in FIG. 6, and the descriptionthereof is not repeated here.

The X-ray receiver 720 may include at least two X-ray receiving regionsarranged in a first direction (e.g., the x-direction) and/or at leasttwo X-ray receiving regions arranged in a second direction (e.g., thez-direction). For illustration purposes, the X-ray receiver 720 may bedivided into a plurality of regions which includes a region A, a regionB, a region C, and a region D. The region A may abut the region B in thefirst direction, and abut the region C in the second direction. Theregion D may abut the region B in the second direction and abut theregion C in the first region. In some embodiments, the at least twoX-ray receiving regions arranged in the first direction may include afirst X-ray receiving region (e.g., formed by the region A and/or theregion C) and a second X-ray receiving region (e.g., formed by theregion B and/or the region D). The at least two X-ray receiving regionsarranged in the second direction may include a third X-ray receivingregion (e.g., formed by the region A and/or the region B) and a fourthX-ray receiving region (e.g., formed by the region C and/or the regionD). In some embodiments, an X-ray receiving region arranged in the firstdirection (e.g., formed by the region A and the region C) may beoverlapped or partially overlapped with an X-ray receiving regionarranged in the second direction (e.g., formed by the region A and theregion C).

When the shelter 710 and the X-ray receiver 720 are radiated by X-raysemitted from a focal spot of an X-ray source, an X-ray receiving regionof the X-ray receiver 720 may receive at least a portion of attenuatedX-rays that pass through the shelter 710 and at least a portion ofunattenuated X-rays that are not attenuated by the shelter 710. Theposition of the focal spot of the X-ray source may be determinedaccording to the different intensities of X-rays that strike differentX-ray receiving regions of the X-ray receiver. For example, the positionof the focal spot in the first direction may be determined according tothe intensity of X-rays that strike the first X-ray receiving region andthe intensity of X-rays that strike the second X-ray receiving region.As another example, the position of the focal spot in the seconddirection may be determined according to the intensity of X-rays thatstrike the third X-ray receiving region and the intensity of X-rays thatstrike the fourth X-ray receiving region. More description regarding thedetermination of the position of the focal spot may be found elsewherein the disclosure (e.g., FIG. 10 and the description thereof).

The sizes of the plurality of X-ray receiving regions may be the same ordifferent. For example, the sizes of the at least two X-ray receivingregions arranged in the first direction (e.g., the x-direction) may bethe same or different. As another example, the sizes of the at least twoX-ray receiving regions arranged in the second direction (e.g., thez-direction) may be the same or different. As still another example, thesize of an X-ray receiving region arranged in the first direction (e.g.,the x-direction) may be the same as or different from the size of anX-ray receiving region arranged in the second direction (e.g., thez-direction).

This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit thescope of the present disclosure. Many alternatives, modifications, andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features,structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplaryembodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtainadditional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments. For example, anX-ray receiving region may be composed of two or more separate regionsof the X-ray receiver. Two separate regions of the X-ray receiver may beseparated by a distance of one or more other regions. However, thosevariations and modifications do not depart the scope of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary tracking device800 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In someembodiments, the tracking device 800 may be used as a component of theimaging apparatus 102 (e.g., the tracking device 420 or a part thereof).The tracking device 800 may include a shelter 810 and an X-ray receiver820. The shelter 810 may be similar to the shelter 510 as illustrated inFIG. 5, or the shelter 610 as illustrated in FIG. 6, and the descriptionthereof is not repeated here.

The X-ray receiver 820 may include a region A, a region C, and a regionD. In a first direction (e.g., the x-direction), the region C may form afirst X-ray receiving region, and the region D may form a second X-rayreceiving region. The position of the focal spot in the first directionmay be determined according to the intensity of X-rays that strike theregion C and the intensity of X-rays that strike the region D.Similarly, in a second direction (e.g., the z-direction), the region Cmay form a third X-ray receiving region, and the region A may form afourth X-ray receiving region. Thus, the position of the focal spot inthe second direction may be determined according to the intensity ofX-rays that strike the region C and the intensity of X-rays that strikethe region A.

This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit thescope of the present disclosure. Many alternatives, modifications, andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features,structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplaryembodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtainadditional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments. For example, theregion A and the region C may be separated by a distance of one or moreother regions. However, those variations and modifications do not departthe scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary tracking device900 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In someembodiments, the tracking device 900 may be used as a component of theimaging apparatus 102 (e.g., the tracking device 420 or a part thereof).The tracking device 900 may include a shelter 910 and an X-ray receiver920. The shelter 910 may have a shape of a cross that is similar to theshelter the shelter 610 as illustrated in FIG. 6, and the descriptionthereof is not repeated here. The X-ray receiver 920 may include aregion E, a region F, a region F and a region G, which may be similar tothe regions as illustrated in FIG. 7, and the description thereof is notrepeated here.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for determininga position of a focal spot of an X-ray source according to someembodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, at least aportion of the process 1000 may be executed on the tracking device 102.At least a portion of the process 1000 may be implemented in thecomputing device 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 (e.g., the processor 220) orthe mobile device 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 (e.g., CPU 340).

In 1010, a shelter may attenuate X-rays emitted from a focal spot of anX-ray source (e.g., the X-ray source 410). The shelter may be theshelter 510 illustrated in FIG. 5, the shelter 610 illustrated in FIG.6, the shelter 710 illustrated in FIG. 7, the shelter 810 illustrated inFIG. 8, or the shelter 910 illustrated in FIG. 9, and the descriptionthereof is not repeated here.

In 1020, an X-ray receiver may receive X-rays, which may include theattenuated X-rays by the shelter and unattenuated X-rays from the focalspot of the X-ray source. The X-ray receiver may have a plurality ofX-ray receiving regions. In some embodiments, an X-ray receiving regionmay receive at least a portion of the attenuated X-rays by the shelterand at least a portion of the unattenuated X-rays from the focal spot ofthe X-ray source.

In 1030, the intensity of the X-rays that strike at least one of theplurality of X-ray receiving regions may be determined by, for example,the tracking device 102 or the processing module 106. In someembodiments, the intensity of the X-rays that strike an X-ray receivingregion arranged in a first direction may be determined. In someembodiments, the intensity of the X-rays that strike an X-ray receivingregion arranged in a second direction may be determined.

For illustration purpose, the intensity of the X-rays that strike atleast one of the plurality of X-ray receiving regions of the trackingdevice 700 illustrated in FIG. 7 is described as an example. Forbrevity, at time t, the intensity of X-rays that strike the region A maybe expressed as P_(A)(t), the intensity of X-rays that strike the regionB may be expressed as P_(B)(t), the intensity of X-rays that strike theregion C may be expressed as P_(C)(t), and the intensity of X-rays thatstrike the region D may be expressed as P_(D)(t). The intensity ofX-rays that strike a region may be in associated with an electricalsignal generated by one or more detection units of the region. A firstX-ray receiving region arranged in a first direction (e.g., thex-direction) may be formed by the region A and the region C, and thusthe intensity of the X-rays that strike the first X-ray receiving regionmay be expressed as P_(A)(t)+P_(C)(t). A second X-ray receiving regionarranged in the first direction (e.g., the x-direction) may be formed bythe region B and the region D, and thus the intensity of the X-rays thatstrike the second X-ray receiving region may be expressed asP_(B)(t)+P_(D)(t). Similarly, a third X-ray receiving region arranged ina second direction (e.g., the z-direction) may be formed by the region Aand the region B, and thus the intensity of the X-rays that strike thethird X-ray receiving region may be expressed as P_(A)(t)+P_(B)(t). Afourth X-ray receiving region arranged in the second direction (e.g.,the z-direction) may be formed by the region C and the region D, andthus the intensity of the X-rays that strike the fourth X-ray receivingregion may be expressed as P_(C)(t)+P_(D)(t).

In 1040, the position of the focal spot of the X-ray source may bedetermined based on the intensity of the X-rays that strike the at leastone of the plurality of X-ray receiving regions by, for example, theprocessing module 106. In some embodiments, the position of the focalspot may be determined according to a relationship between positions ofthe focal spot and distributions of intensities of the X-rays thatstrike the at least one of the plurality of X-ray receiving regions. Thedistribution of intensities of the X-rays that strike the at least oneof the plurality of X-ray receiving regions may be expressed as variousdistribution related parameters.

For example, a first distribution related parameter may be expressed asthe difference between the intensities of the X-rays that strike atleast two of the plurality of X-ray receiving regions in a firstdirection (e.g., the x-direction). Referring to FIG. 7, the differencebetween the intensities of the X-rays that strike two X-ray receivingregions in the x-direction may be expressed as:P _(x)(t)=(P _(A)(t)+P _(C)(t))−(P _(B)(t)+P _(D)(t)),  (1)where P_(x)(t) denotes the first distribution related parameter,P_(A)(t)+P_(C)(t) denotes the intensity of the X-rays that strike thefirst X-ray receiving region in the x-direction, and P_(B)(t)+P_(D)(t)denotes the intensity of the X-rays that strike the second X-rayreceiving region in the x-direction.

As another example, a second distribution related parameter may beexpressed as the difference between the intensities of the X-rays thatstrike at least two of the plurality of X-ray receiving regions in asecond direction (e.g., the z-direction). Referring to FIG. 7, thedifference between the intensities of the X-rays that strike two X-rayreceiving regions in the z-direction may be expressed as:P _(z)(t)=(P _(A)(t)+P _(B)(t))−(P _(C)(t)+P _(D)(t)),  (2)where P_(z)(t) denotes the second distribution related parameter,P_(A)(t)+P_(B)(t) denotes the intensity of the X-rays that strike thethird X-ray receiving region in the z-direction, and P_(C)(t)+P_(D)(t)denotes the intensity of the X-rays that strike the fourth X-rayreceiving region in the z-direction.

As still another example, a third distribution related parameter may beexpressed as the ratio between the intensities of the X-rays that strikeat least two of the plurality of X-ray receiving regions in a firstdirection (e.g., the x-direction). Referring to FIG. 7, the ratiobetween the intensities of the X-rays that strike two of the pluralityof X-ray receiving regions in the x-direction may be expressed as:P′ _(x)(t)=(P _(A)(t)+P(t))/(P _(B)(t)+P _(D)(t)),  (3)where P′_(x)(t) denotes the third distribution related parameter.

As still another example, a fourth distribution related parameter may beexpressed as the ratio between the intensities of the X-rays that strikeat least two of the plurality of X-ray receiving regions in the seconddirection (e.g., the z-direction). Referring to FIG. 7, the ratiobetween the intensities of the X-rays that strike two of the pluralityof X-ray receiving regions in the z-direction may be expressed as:P′ _(z)(t)=(P _(A)(t)+P _(B)(t))/(P _(C)(t)+P _(D)(t)),  (4)where P′_(z)(t) denotes the fourth distribution related parameter.

In some embodiments, the relationship between positions of the focalspot and distributions of intensities of the X-rays that strike the atleast one of the plurality of X-ray receiving regions may be presentedin the form of, for example, a lookup table, or a database. If adistribution of intensities of the X-rays that strike the at least oneof the plurality of X-ray receiving regions (e.g., the value of adistribution related parameter) is determined, the correspondingposition of the focal spot may be determined accordingly. For example, avalue of the first distribution related parameter or the thirddistribution related parameter may correspond to a position of the focalspot in the first direction. A value of the second distribution relatedparameter or the fourth distribution related parameter may correspond toa position of the focal spot in the second direction. The relationshipbetween positions of the focal spot and distributions of intensities ofthe X-rays that strike the at least one of the plurality of X-rayreceiving regions may be stored in one or more storage (e.g., thestorage module 112) in the form of, for example, data or instructions.In some embodiments, when a distribution of intensities of the X-raysthat strike different X-ray receiving regions of a X-ray receiver isobtained by the processing module 106, the processing module 106 mayretrieve the relationship between positions of the focal spot anddistributions of intensities of the X-rays that strike the at least oneof the plurality of X-ray receiving regions from a storage (e.g., thestorage module 112), and further determine the position of the focalspot based according to the relationship.

This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit thescope of the present disclosure. Many alternatives, modifications, andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features,structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplaryembodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtainadditional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments. For example, thedistribution of intensities of the X-rays that strike the at least oneof the plurality of X-ray receiving regions may be expressed as otherdistribution related parameters. Specifically, the intensity of theX-rays that strike more than two X-ray receiving regions in thefirst/second direction may be used to define a distribution relatedparameter. However, those variations and modifications do not depart thescope of the present disclosure.

Having thus described the basic concepts, it may be rather apparent tothose skilled in the art after reading this detailed disclosure that theforegoing detailed disclosure is intended to be presented by way ofexample only and is not limiting. Various alterations, improvements, andmodifications may occur and are intended to those skilled in the art,though not expressly stated herein. These alterations, improvements, andmodifications are intended to be suggested by this disclosure and arewithin the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of thisdisclosure.

Moreover, certain terminology has been used to describe embodiments ofthe present disclosure. For example, the terms “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” and/or “some embodiments” mean that a particular feature,structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.Therefore, it is emphasized and should be appreciated that two or morereferences to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” or “an alternativeembodiment” in various portions of this specification are notnecessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, theparticular features, structures or characteristics may be combined assuitable in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

Further, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects ofthe present disclosure may be illustrated and described herein in any ofa number of patentable classes or context including any new and usefulprocess, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new anduseful improvement thereof. Accordingly, aspects of the presentdisclosure may be implemented entirely hardware, entirely software(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or combiningsoftware and hardware implementation that may all generally be referredto herein as a “unit,” “module,” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects ofthe present disclosure may take the form of a computer program productembodied in one or more computer readable media having computer readableprogram code embodied thereon.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including electromagnetic, optical, or thelike, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signalmedium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computerreadable storage medium and that may communicate, propagate, ortransport a program for use by or in connection with an instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device. Program code embodied on acomputer readable signal medium may be transmitted using any appropriatemedium, including wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, or thelike, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent disclosure may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Scala, Smalltalk, Eiffel, JADE, Emerald, C++, C #, VB.NET, Python or the like, conventional procedural programming languages,such as the “C” programming language, Visual Basic, Fortran 2103, Perl,COBOL 2102, PHP, ABAP, dynamic programming languages such as Python,Ruby and Groovy, or other programming languages. The program code mayexecute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer,as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer andpartly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer orserver. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected tothe user's computer through any type of network, including a local areanetwork (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may bemade to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using anInternet Service Provider) or in a cloud computing environment oroffered as a service such as a Software as a Service (SaaS).

Furthermore, the recited order of processing elements or sequences, orthe use of numbers, letters, or other designations, therefore, is notintended to limit the claimed processes and methods to any order exceptas may be specified in the claims. Although the above disclosurediscusses through various examples what is currently considered to be avariety of useful embodiments of the disclosure, it is to be understoodthat such detail is solely for that purpose and that the appended claimsare not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, areintended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that arewithin the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments. For example,although the implementation of various components described above may beembodied in a hardware device, it may also be implemented as a softwareonly solution, for example, an installation on an existing server ormobile device.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the foregoing description ofembodiments of the present disclosure, various features are sometimesgrouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereoffor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure aiding in theunderstanding of one or more of the various inventive embodiments. Thismethod of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed subject matter requires more features thanare expressly recited in each claim. Rather, inventive embodiments liein less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment.

In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities or propertiesused to describe and claim certain embodiments of the application are tobe understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about,”“approximate,” or “substantially.” For example, “about,” “approximate,”or “substantially” may indicate ±20% variation of the value itdescribes, unless otherwise stated. Accordingly, in some embodiments,the numerical parameters set forth in the written description andattached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon thedesired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. Insome embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in lightof the number of reported significant digits and by applying aordinaryrounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges andparameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of theapplication are approximations, the numerical values set forth in thespecific examples are reported as precisely as practicable.

Each of the patents, patent applications, publications of patentapplications, and other material, such as articles, books,specifications, publications, documents, things, and/or the like,referenced herein is hereby incorporated herein by this reference in itsentirety for all purposes, excepting any prosecution file historyassociated with same, any of same that is inconsistent with or inconflict with the present document, or any of same that may have alimiting affect as to the broadest scope of the claims now or laterassociated with the present document. By way of example, should there beany inconsistency or conflict between the description, definition,and/or the use of a term associated with any of the incorporatedmaterial and that associated with the present document, the description,definition, and/or the use of the term in the present document shallprevail.

In closing, it is to be understood that the embodiments of theapplication disclosed herein are illustrative of the principles of theembodiments of the application. Other modifications that may be employedmay be within the scope of the application. Thus, by way of example, butnot of limitation, alternative configurations of the embodiments of theapplication may be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein.Accordingly, embodiments of the present application are not limited tothat precisely as shown and describe.

What is claimed is:
 1. An imaging system, comprising: an imagingapparatus for scanning an object with X-rays, the imaging apparatusincluding: an X-ray source configured to generate the X-rays forirradiating the object; a tracking device including a shelter configuredto attenuate a first portion of the X-rays traversing the trackingdevice, and an X-ray receiver configured to receive the attenuated firstportion of the X-rays and a unattenuated second portion of the X-raystraversing the tracking device; and an X-ray detector for detecting theX-rays traversing the object; a storage device storing a set ofinstructions; and at least one processor in communication with thestorage device, wherein when executing the instructions, the at leastone processor is configured to cause the system to perform operationsincluding: determining a position of a focal spot of the X-ray sourcebased on data acquired by the tracking device.
 2. The imaging system ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause thesystem to perform the operations including: generating an image based ondata related to the X-rays detected by the X-ray detector.
 3. Theimaging system of claim 1, wherein the tracking device is arrangedbetween the X-ray source and the X-ray detector.
 4. The imaging systemof claim 1, wherein the shelter is made of an X-ray absorbing material.5. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the X-ray receiver includes aplurality of X-ray receiving regions, each of which includes one or moredetection units configured to generate electrical signals in response tothe X-rays that strike the X-ray receiving region.
 6. The imaging systemof claim 5, wherein to determine a position of a focal spot of the X-raysource based on data acquired by the tracking device, the at least oneprocessor is configured to cause the system to perform the operationsincluding: determining an intensity of the X-rays received by at leastone of the plurality of X-ray receiving regions, the received X-raysincluding the attenuated first portion of the X-rays and theunattenuated second portion of the X-rays; and determining, based on thedetermined intensity of the X-rays, the position of the focal spot ofthe X-ray source.
 7. The imaging system of claim 6, wherein to determinean intensity of the X-rays received by at least one of the plurality ofX-ray receiving regions, the at least one processor is configured tocause the system to perform the operations including: determining anintensity of the X-rays that strike a first X-ray receiving region in afirst direction; determining an intensity of the X-rays that strike asecond X-ray receiving region in the first direction; determining anintensity of the X-rays that strike a third X-ray receiving region in asecond direction; and determining an intensity of the X-rays that strikea fourth X-ray receiving region in the second direction, wherein thefirst direction is perpendicular to the second direction, and one of thefirst and second receiving regions is partially overlapped with one ofthe third and fourth receiving regions.
 8. The imaging system of claim7, wherein to determine, based on the determined intensity of theX-rays, the position of the focal spot of the X-ray source, the at leastone processor is configured to cause the system to perform theoperations including: determining a first distribution related parameterbased on a difference between the determined intensities of the X-raysthat strike the first X-ray receiving region and the second X-rayreceiving region; and determining a second distribution relatedparameter based on a difference between the determined intensities ofthe X-rays that strike the third X-ray receiving region and the fourthX-ray receiving region.
 9. The imaging system of claim 8, wherein todetermine, based on the determined intensity of the X-rays, the positionof the focal spot of the X-ray source, the at least one processor isconfigured to cause the system to perform the operations including:determining the position of the focal spot in the first direction basedon the first distribution related parameter; and determining theposition of the focal spot in the second direction based on the seconddistribution related parameter.
 10. The imaging system of claim 7,wherein to determine, based on the determined intensity of the X-rays,the position of the focal spot of the X-ray source, the at least oneprocessor is configured to cause the system to perform the operationsincluding: determining a third distribution related parameter based on aratio between the determined intensities of the X-rays that strike thefirst X-ray receiving region and the second X-ray receiving region; anddetermining a fourth distribution related parameter based on a ratiobetween the determined intensities of the X-rays that strike the thirdX-ray receiving region and the fourth X-ray receiving region.
 11. Theimaging system of claim 10, wherein to determine, based on thedetermined intensity of the X-rays, the position of the focal spot ofthe X-ray source, the at least one processor is configured to cause thesystem to perform the operations including: determining the position ofthe focal spot in the first direction based on the third distributionrelated parameter; and determining the position of the focal spot in thesecond direction based on the fourth distribution related parameter. 12.The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus includes atleast one of: a computed tomography (CT) scanner, a digital radiography(DR) scanner, a computed radiography (CR) scanner, a computedtomography-positron emission tomography (CT-PET) scanner, or a computedtomography-magnetic resonance imaging (CT-MRI) scanner.
 13. A method fordetermining a position of a focal spot of an X-ray source of an imagingapparatus, comprising: determining, based on data acquired by a trackingdevice arranged between the X-ray source and an X-ray detector of theimaging apparatus, the position of the focal spot of the X-ray source,wherein the tracking device includes a shelter configured to attenuate afirst portion of X-rays traversing the tracking device, and an X-rayreceiver configured to receive the attenuated first portion of theX-rays and a unattenuated second portion of the X-rays traversing thetracking device.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the X-ray receiverincludes a plurality of X-ray receiving regions, each of which includesone or more detection units configured to generate electrical signals inresponse to the X-rays that strike the X-ray receiving region.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, wherein the determining a position of a focal spotof the X-ray source based on data acquired by the tracking deviceincludes: determining an intensity of the X-rays received by at leastone of the plurality of X-ray receiving regions, the received X-raysincluding the attenuated first portion of the X-rays and theunattenuated second portion of the X-rays; and determining, based on thedetermined intensity of the X-rays, the position of the focal spot ofthe X-ray source.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the determining anintensity of the X-rays received by at least one of the plurality ofX-ray receiving regions includes: determining an intensity of the X-raysthat strike a first X-ray receiving region in a first direction;determining an intensity of the X-rays that strike a second X-rayreceiving region in the first direction; determining an intensity of theX-rays that strike a third X-ray receiving region in a second direction;and determining an intensity of the X-rays that strike a fourth X-rayreceiving region in the second direction, wherein the first direction isperpendicular to the second direction, and one of the first and secondreceiving regions is partially overlapped with one of the third andfourth receiving regions.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein thedetermining, based on the determined intensity of the X-rays, theposition of the focal spot of the X-ray source includes: determining afirst distribution related parameter based on a difference between thedetermined intensities of the X-rays that strike the first X-rayreceiving region and the second X-ray receiving region; and determininga second distribution related parameter based on a difference betweenthe determined intensities of the X-rays that strike the third X-rayreceiving region and the fourth X-ray receiving region.
 18. The methodof claim 17, wherein the determining, based on the determined intensityof the X-rays, the position of the focal spot of the X-ray sourceincludes: determining the position of the focal spot in the firstdirection based on the first distribution related parameter; anddetermining the position of the focal spot in the second direction basedon the second distribution related parameter.
 19. The method of claim16, wherein the determining, based on the determined intensity of theX-rays, the position of the focal spot of the X-ray source includes:determining a third distribution related parameter based on a ratiobetween the determined intensities of the X-rays that strike the firstX-ray receiving region and the second X-ray receiving region; anddetermining a fourth distribution related parameter based on a ratiobetween the determined intensities of the X-rays that strike the thirdX-ray receiving region and the fourth X-ray receiving region.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the determining, based on the determinedintensity of the X-rays, the position of the focal spot of the X-raysource includes: determining the position of the focal spot in the firstdirection based on the third distribution related parameter; anddetermining the position of the focal spot in the second direction basedon the fourth distribution related parameter.